DNA profiles from matchsticks

ABSTRACT

Matchsticks may be found in forensic investigations, and here we report on a method to generate informative DNA profiles from a matchstick. Matchsticks were struck or held emulating striking, cellular material was removed using a tape-lift method and DNA profiles were generated from a small portion of the tape-lift using either direct PCR amplification or post-extraction PCR. Performing an extraction from the tape-lift prior to PCR resulted in 62% of profiles being informative, compared with 86% held and 97% struck matchsticks that underwent direct PCR. Incorporation of a tape-lift method into matchstick analysis allows effective collection of cellular material for the generation of genetic information from the striker of the matchstick.

KEYWORDS:

• Forensic science
• direct PCR
• matchstick
• STR profiling

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge and thank all volunteers who participated in this study for the donation of their time and DNA.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this research was provided by the Attorney General’s Department through Forensic Science SA and the Ross Vining Memorial Research Fund. Funding sources had no involvement in the study design, collection and interpretation of data, writing of the report, or the decision to submit the paper for publication.